Pedroia, Dombrowski address clubhouse and Price

BOSTON – Since news about David Price’s comments to Dennis Eckersley broke Sunday, the Red Sox have done their best to put out the firestorm. But when the attention turned from Price, to the front office, to John Farrell, it finished with Dustin Pedroia (to this point) after their were conflicting reports as to whether or not he was one of the players cheering when Price went after the Hall of Famer, it was time for the longest tenured Red Sox player to speak up.

“Obviously his incident that he had was a month ago and we talked about it since then,” Pedroia said. “In this clubhouse we have two rules basically, it’s pretty easy: be on time and be professional. After that incident we talked about it and that’s it. We kind of moved on it. I’m sure he’s going to have a conversation with Eck whenever he sees him. He hasn’t seen him since that.”

Throughout the story’s development, Pedroia’s ability to lead this team has come into question, with many (including this reporter) suggesting he might not be a leader with his words, but solely with his play. Given he spoke to Price one-on-one to address the issue, it’s clear he’s not afraid to address clubhouse problems.

And his direct address to reporters regarding his leadership removed any shred of doubt that he believes this is his team.

“Yeah it bothered…it bothers you when stuff’s not true. But obviously I’ll do anything for my teammates,” Pedroia said when asked if the rumors of his role in the incident bothered him. “Nothing’s going to divide this team, whatever people say from the outside.

“Oh we don’t have a leader – standing right here. Been here for a long time. We’re in first place. So, that’s it. Write what you guys want. Here I am. (Don’t) see anybody else up doing this, do you? Nope . . . fact. There’s your source, from the mouth.”

Thus ending Pedroia’s part in all this.

But that still left the matter of David Price’s all-to-convenient timing with his elbow pain, hitting the 10-day disabled list hours before he was slated to start in Boston’s return to Fenway Park after it’s West Coast trip. “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck,” seems to be the appropriate saying. But Dave Dombrowski did his best to squander that.

“You can’t put a guy on the disabled list unless you get medical clearance from the commissioner’s office,” Dombrowski said before Friday’s game. “Let’s just pretend somebody wanted to put a guy on the disabled list for a reason, the commissioner’s office checks and get’s doctor’s reports and you have to send in (the) doctor’s certification.”

Now it’d be a little odd for Dombrowski to fabricate that, but with that statement he also squashed the idea there’s such a thing as a “phantom disabled list,” something the Red Sox and other teams have been accused of utilizing when players are underperforming.

But when pressed on why no one in uniform has apologized to Eck, Dombrowski showed a side he’s not often displayed if at all since joining the Red Sox brass – if he’s displayed it at all.

“I wouldn’t get into that anymore. To me, that’s stuff in the clubhouse, that’s our private stuff,” Dombrowski said when asked if it’s safe to assume the clubhouse has a problem with Eckersley. “I’ve addressed the issue at great length. And I know when talk people about it. I’ve had a lengthy conversation on this topic in the clubhouse, with individuals. I’ll just leave it at that. I feel like it’s been properly addressed.”

But he continued, clearly perturbed by the question, which came from the Boston Herald’s Steve Buckley.

“And I’ve had lengthy conversations, so when somebody says that nobody – and I’m not saying you,” addressing Buckley. “I’m just saying I heard that somebody said, ‘well nobody in the organization has apologized to Dennis Eckersley,’ that’s not accurate.”

Buckley then replied, clarifying that his question had to with the people in uniform – players and coaches – not talking with Eckersley, acknowledging that Dombrowski and other front office members spoke with the Red Sox broadcaster.

“I understand that. Yeah I heard it,” Dombrowski replied before a significant pause. “Did you hear my response? OK good, I just wanted to make sure that I did address it. And sometimes you don’t know what’s been said either.”

Buckley became more direct with his questioning, wanting to know why Farrell hadn’t apologized to Eck, stating he was confused by the how the manager was handling the situation.

We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Rules. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment or fill out this form.

Blog Author

Nick Friar

Nick Friar is your local Red Sox writer and analyst, featured on WPRI and 1480 WSAR, in addition to covering the team for the Standard-Times. You can find him on Twitter @Nick_Friar. Read Full